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Outdoor Unit icing up today?????? chances are it working normally if it’s still heating your home sufficiently…..Heat Pumps have a built in defrost control that will automatically remove the formation of frost every 30 60 or 90 minutes. If the control was to fail, your unit will look somewhat of an iceberg and most likely will not heat your home unless your contractor oversized your heat strips……….With the outdoor coil operating 20 degrees or more below outdoor temperature and a 100% humidity combination the unit is likely to start frosting again shortly after a defrost cycle……..Don’t forget 10% off any heating Service Call for the month of December! Just mention Facebook. Have a great weekend and Thank you for making Total Comfort Services Wilmington NC’s #1 Comfort Specialist!

Federal Tax Credit
We know your home is an investment. And so should your heating and cooling system, especially with savings this tax season. Earn up to a $1,500 tax credit (limited to 30 percent of installed costs) when you purchase a high-efficiency Westinghouse system. You can be sure a Westinghouse high-efficiency system brings total home comfort and reduced utility bills with a 10-year limited warranty on all parts and a 10-year quality pledge.

Tax Credit Details

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is now providing up to a $1,500 tax credit on extra-high efficiency heating and cooling equipment.

Tax credits are only for equipment purchased between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2010.

Below are the minimum requirements for qualification. Qualifying equipment must have a valid AHRI certificate, which you can obtain from your dealer. Not all equipment qualifies. See your dealer for details.

Split-system air conditioners: at least 16 SEER and 13 EER
Split-system air-source heat pumps: at least 15 SEER, 12.5 EER and 8.5 HSPF
Packaged air conditioners: at least 14 SEER and 12 EER
Packaged heat pumps: at least 14 SEER, 12 EER and 8 HSPF
Gas furnaces: at least 95% AFUE
Now is a great time to consider purchasing a heat pump instead of an air conditioner. Heat pumps work just like an air conditioner in the summer, but also provide heat in the winter. You can pair a heat pump with a gas furnace, and run the heat pump in mild weather and the furnace is colder temperatures, saving you money on your winter utility bills. How much? Visit our hybrid saver to see an estimate for your area. And because many heat pump models qualify for the federal tax credit, you’ll get a wider range of choices and price ranges than with an air conditioner. We can help you select the right system for your home.

People have been asking me about what kind of filters they should use. My opinion is that the standard pleated filters will give you the cleanest air for the price BUT, be careful of using these filters if your return air duct is marginally sized to begin with, because in that case, you could be dropping the air volume accross the coil to below the accepted 400cfm/ton requirement. The best way to test to see if the airflow is correct is by taking static pressure readings and using the manufacturers blower performance data. This is a fool proof method that is tried and true. With that said, there is no quick way to tell you which filter is best for you without further evaluation and testing.

Just a tip:

If your unit is freezing up in the summer time, the best thing you can do is immediately go to the thermostat and turn the fan to the “on” position and the system switch to “off”. This will circulate warm air over the inside coil where the majority of the ice is, and will assist the thawing process until a service technician arrives. Don’t forget to check the air filters before placing the call. Air Filters that are extremely dirty can cause a perfectly operating system to freeze up.
The most common cause of a unit freezing up is a low freon charge. If you have a history of adding freon to your system it is best to get a leak search done, and have the leak repaired. However, it is NOT required by law to have the leak repaired, and some companies will mislead you into thinking that it is. It is however, illegal to intentionally release refrigerant into the atmosphere. YES, there is a difference between letting refrigerant release from your hose, and adding refrigerant to a system with a known leak. I don’t make the laws….I just abide by them….Thanks.